VintageVino Pick of the Day: Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Wachau, 2007

Here is a sassy but serious little wine from a great Austrian producer. Domäne Wachau produces some top wines in what is essentially one of the best growing regions of Austria - the Wachau. This is an entry level wine for them, but it is as serious a wine as you will find probably under $18 or $20 (and this wine is only retailing for about $12).

Mild aromatics, but almost unmistakable Grüner Veltliner. It has that combination of lime skin and green grass, mixed with a slight waxy quality that it so typical of GV. The attack is mild but lasting. The wine penetrates slowly onto your taste buds, washes away with a dry feeling but the flavors last - like unsweetened green tea. Refreshing, but at the same time screaming for some food. Try with some white fish (I think this would almost overpower raw seafood such as oysters), or chicken or pork - this is a wine that I would love to have with some simple roasted chicken that is dripping with juicy fat or a nice pork loin - also sweet and juicy. The flavors and the texture of both would play very well off the dry acidity of this wine.

A small amount of this wine sees some older/larger wood, and it is this wood contact, or should I say air contact, that adds to the intensity and depth of the flavors. I like this wine very much and at only 12% abv, it is a great wine to drink mid-week, or at a party.